56
ROMEO AND JULIET
[ACT II.
| Jul. | I would not for the world they saw thee here. |
| Rom. | I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes[C 1]; 75 And but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued,[E 1] wanting of thy love. |
| Jul. | By whose direction found'st thou out this place? |
| Rom. | By love,[E 2] that[C 2] first did prompt me to inquire; 80 He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast[E 3] shore wash'd[C 3] with the farthest[C 4] sea, I would[C 5] adventure[E 4] for such merchandise. |
| Jul. | Thou know'st the mask[E 5] of night is on my face, 85 Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form,[E 6] fain, fain deny What I have spoke: but farewell compliment![C 6][E 7] Dost thou love me? I[C 7] know thou wilt say "Ay," 90 And I will take thy word; yet, if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries, |
- ↑ 75. eyes] Q, F; sight Q 1.
- ↑ 80. that] Q, F; who Q 1.
- ↑ 83. vast shore washed] Qq 4, 5; vast shore washeth Q; vast-shore-washet F
- ↑ farthest] Q, F; furthest Q 1.
- ↑ 84. would] Q 1; should Q, F.
- ↑ 89. compliment] Pope; complement Q, F; complements Q 1, F 2.
- ↑ 90. love me? I] Q; Love? I F; Love? O I Ff 2, 3.
- ↑ 78. prorogued] delayed, as in IV. i. 48.
- ↑ 80. By love] Keightley reads By Love's.
- ↑ 83. vast] Walker (Crit. Exam. of Shakespeare's Text, ii. 39) has an article which attempts to show that Shakespeare uses the word like Lat. vastus, empty, waste.
- ↑ 84. adventure] There is a special propriety in the word when referring to a commercial enterprise across the sea. The society of Merchant Adventurers was so named by Henry vii.
- ↑ 85. mask] like saint, line 55, perhaps a reverberation from the recent feast and dance.
- ↑ 88. dwell on form] adhere to conventional manners.
- ↑ 89. compliment] outward forms, punctilio, as in Much Ado, IV. i. 322.
